west elm's Neil Gazmen connects with local customers

According to his bio, “Neil Gazmen is a retail people manager with over 9 years experience in managing high volume, complex stores in the Toronto area. He is a strong supporter of relationship based selling and grassroots type marketing that targets building a community of loyal followers, one customer at a time.” The last sentence is quite telling.

I met Neil on Twitter several months ago and recently in real life. He’s always bright, friendly and busy making everyday conversation with his Twitter community. Although he’s always quick to answer customer questions, he makes a point of being himself and not overtly promoting west elm or its Toronto store – the first Canadian location – where he is Associate Store Manager.  A of couple weeks ago we had a chance to chat and in a few minutes shared each of our “how we got into social media” stories. I was fascinated by how he’s been helping west elm build relationships with customers one tweet at a time and asked if I could share some of his story with you.

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Photo credit: Eden Spodek

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Bargainista interviews Patricia Pinkney from Pangea Collection

Patricia Pinkney introduced herself to me on Twitter last winter. We got to know each other on Twitter a bit and I invited her for a Bargainista interview to learn more about Patricia and the work she’s doing with the Pangea Collection – her fair trade jewellery business.

What can you tell us in a nutshell about your different collections?
The name Pangea Collection comes from the name of the continent “Pangea” (or “Pangaea”) which was the name of the super continent that existed before the break up of the continents as we know them today. The idea is Pangea-Collection.com brings the world back together again so you can find all the beautiful fair trade and artisan jewellery from around the world in one easy place, at a click of a mouse.

Each jewellery collection reflects the culture from which it originates. Pangea Collection has jewellery from Asia, Africa, North and South America and Europe. Some of these jewellery crafting techniques date back centuries. Purchasing a piece of jewellery from these fair trade and independent artisans not only helps the artisan achieve the art of self reliance but also helps to preserve traditional techniques which might otherwise be lost if a market couldn't be found for their jewellery artwork.

Pangea Collection jewellery is fashionable AND socially conscious. That's what our customers love about Pangea Collection jewellery. They feel like they have a little piece of culture adorning them and they feel good about supporting the artisan.

Our most popular collections include the Handmade Silver Jewelry from Mexico, the Bali Jewelry (Harmony Balls in particular) and the Fair Trade Indian Jewelry.

What type of customer do you have in mind when choosing pieces for your collection?
Pangea Collection customers look for pieces that reflect their personality. Jewellery that they won't find at mass stores or shopping malls. They like to travel and explore different cultures and usually shop when travelling. I look for jewellery that reflects the cultural origins and when our customers wear them they will get that "that's beautiful, where did you get that?" question. They can then tell the story of the jewellery, it's origin and artisan who handcrafted it. Our customers love that.

Where can Bargainista readers buy items from Pangea Collection?
www.Pangea-Collection.com – everything is available online, starting at just $20 including free shipping! That's a bargain, for a bargainista!

What inspires you?
Travel and the discovery of how much beautiful creative work there is in the world. I am also inspired by women entrepreneurs, especially women in developing markets who start businesses even under very challenging market conditions and through pure persistence make a viable business to support their families.

I‘m also a huge fan of micro financing and organisations like Opportunity International. For as little as a $50 loan, a women in a developing market can use that loan to start a business.

What would you like people to know about your approach to jewellery?
That I seek the world to find the most beautiful jewellery pieces that are handcrafted by fair trade and independent jewellery artisans so that every woman can feel beautiful. The woman who wears it and the women (and sometimes men) who handcraft it.

I am aware of trends and always keep them in mind but that is not what drives my buying. I look for jewellery that I would feel great wearing today and in 20 years. Sometimes a piece that Pangea Collection has had in stock already becomes “trendy” the next season.

Why Twitter? Is it helping you build your business? How do you know? Are you using other social media tools? Which ones and why?
Twitter (@pangeacollecton – no “i” in collection) and other social media are fascinating. I use both, Facebook more than Twitter but I really need to find more time to use Twitter. These social media tools aren’t really driving sales for Pangea Collection but they really do help me from other business perspectives such as finding new artisans understanding who is talking about issues that are important to us and connecting with media, etc.

How do I know if social media is successful? I measure everything I do. I use the available free tools to measure success of any initiative that Pangea Collection uses.

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Bargainista interviews Marta Nowinska from SwapSity

As you may know, I've been intrigued by local swap parties. Last year when Marta Nowinska approached me about promoting her swap meet on Bargainista, I was happy to help. Last week when Marta emailed to let me know she was launching SwapSity – an online consumer barter community – I suggested we do an interview.

What inspires you?

I love bringing my ideas to life and building exciting initiatives from the ground up. The creative process, along with the challenges it brings, fuels an entrepreneurial flame within me. Dialogue and idea-sharing also bring me new insights and spark my creativity.

Where did you get the idea for SwapSity?
Often, my best ideas come in flashes of insight, which was the case with SwapSity. The thought of swapping things crossed my mind one early morning in 2005, while on the way to work. Market research revealed clear potential for consumer barter in Canada. The idea was also fresh and unique, so I set out to create SwapSity.

Are you planning on holding swap parties in other locations besides central Toronto?

We started out with swap meets for downtowners and if there is significant interest, we will definitely consider expanding our events to other locations.

What would you like people to know about your approach to swap parties? How are they different from others and how will they integrate with the SwapSity brand?

Our brand offers the option of both an online and offline swapping experience. The swap meets have a variety of themes depending on the season. To date, we’ve organized a general garage sale and a book-movie-music swap. Upcoming events may include toy swaps for parents, clothing exchanges and arts and crafts fairs. Our events are open to everyone, including those who are not SwapSity members.

You’re on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr and have a blog, how are you using social media to help build SwapSity?

Our social media presence keeps growing. We share our swap meet photos on Flickr, tweet daily swap listings on Twitter and feature interesting items on Facebook. Recently, we have also started highlighting success swap stories on our blog.

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Bargainista interviews Hellen Buttigieg

A few years ago, I stumbled upon a show called Neat on HGTV Canada. Each week, home and office organization coach, Hellen Buttigieg went into a home, helped organize the clutter and by the end of the hour, some lucky person had benefited from Hellen’s wisdom and a room makeover. I always wanted to meet Hellen and ask her to help me out. I even went as far as to ask my husband to enlist her coaching/consulting services as my birthday present this year.

Well, I still hadn’t gone beyond Googling her. About a month ago, our mutual friend, Donna Papacosta mentioned Hellen was on Twitter. Within minutes I started following her. We soon started an online conversation and I inquired about her company, We Organize U. I was delighted when she obliged to do this interview. I also went as far as to book my first session and started working with Nadia, a lovely member of the We Organize U team. I can’t wait for my next session.

What inspires you?
I get inspired by people who realize their dreams and live the kind of life they want for themselves. If I can play a small role in helping them create that, I get jazzed up.

What is chronic disorganization?
Great question, because the term is often misunderstood. The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) defines it as “having a past history of disorganization in which self-help efforts to change have failed, an undermining of current quality of life due to disorganization, and the expectation of future disorganization”.

When did you decide to help people organize their personal space and why?
I started my organizing business, We Organize U, in 2001. Ironically, it was meant as a temporary job to fund my coaching studies. Little did I know at the time how the two fields, organizing and coaching, could work together to help people create the life of their dreams.

How would reducing clutter in my home help me save time and money?
Reducing clutter allows us to save time and money because it makes it easier to find what we need quickly and easily, so it saves us from having to run to the store to buy duplicates (and a few impulse purchases while we’re there). A de-cluttered home takes less time to clean. Less clutter means we can use and enjoy all the rooms in our home as opposed to having some spaces ‘out of bounds’ because they have become storage areas for unused stuff.

What would you like Bargainista readers to know about your approach?
At We Organize U, we never use a cookie-cutter approach to organizing our clients. Our goal is not just to get you organized; it’s to set you up for success in maintaining your organized home/office. We help clients conquer clutter by providing them with strategies and techniques based on their unique learning style (visual, auditory or kinesthetic). You can learn more about this in my book, Organizing Outside the Box: Conquer Clutter Using Your Natural Learning Style.

Why Twitter and Facebook? Are they helping you build your business? How do you know?
I resisted getting on Twitter and Facebook for the longest time, but I’m a convert now. Social media has helped my business grow. My book reached #1 on the Amazon bestseller list in two of its categories within days of being published and only being promoted through social media. An added bonus: I’ve met some really great people.

Check out my interview on FinalFashion

Shortly after Bargainista began, some awesome and very connected members of the fashion blogging community contacted me and invited me to join them for the second Toronto Fashion Bloggers Brunch, started by none other than the incredibly talented and articulate Danielle Meder, the woman behind finalfashion. She’s a brilliant fashion illustrator too. (Thanks Danielle for letting me include one of your illustrations.)

Danielle interviewed me this week for her interview series, fashion blog karma where we discuss the intersection between the fashion and shopping blogger communities and public relations. Have a read. I’d love to know what you think.

Bargainista interviews MeghanT

I’ve never met MeghanT in person. I follow her on Twitter and I’ve been impressed by her jewellery design and the way her love of life comes through in her both her craft and her tweets. I wanted to learn more and thought you might too, so I asked her a little about her business. Handmade artisan jewellery creations for the discriminating collector.

As a special gift to you...
MeghanT is offering you a 10% discount until the end of August. All you need to do go to www.MeghanT.etsy.com and click on ”contact” and send her a note quoting the “Barganista” code and the item you’d like to buy. Meghan will adjust the price on her site and create a reserved listing for you so you can make your purchase.

What inspires you?
Designs [are] inspired by the Caribbean and my inner musings, Featuring gold, silver, gemstones, crystals and original organic material found in my travels around the globe.

When did you start designing jewellery?
I experimented with jewellery design when I was a little girl, but I was more into drawing and painting growing up. Everyone thought for sure that I’d be going to college to study the arts and were shocked when I did an about face and pursued a career in Psychology. I didn’t start designing jewellery until a few years after I graduated from university with a B.A. I felt like I had neglected a very important part of myself during my studies, and was yearning for a creative outlet once again. I started by training at a school in Toronto for makeup artistry. I got certified, but it wasn’t the right niche for me. It opened up my eyes to the world of photography and fashion though, so I was grateful for the experience. Shortly afterwards I began sketching jewellery designs. As I learned new techniques I was able to tackle more complicated projects and my passion and enthusiasm for design just grew and grew.

Tell us about your experience on Etsy.
Etsy gave me a chance to show my creativity to the world for the first time ever. I have always supported handmade artists and was looking for a way to make online purchases and not wait for the yearly art shows I was so fond off. Initially I was content to purchase other artists work in lieu of going to the mall, but slowly I began working on my own shop, and listing some of my favorite creations to get feedback from the public. Etsy gave me a way of showing my work to people all over the world – an audience I would not have had initially were I to try this all on my own.

What inspires you?
All my creations are motivated by something powerful moving through me. I am a lover of life and I’m constantly compelled by the things I see and feel on a daily basis. I spent many years of my life as a teen on the island of Grenada and go back yearly for extended vacations. The island is chocked full of bright, vibrant, compelling imagery and instead of painting what I see – I create jewellery. It’s hard not to develop an eye for rich bold color after living in the Caribbean.

What would you like people to know about your approach?
I look at my handmade jewellery designs as opportunities to create wearable art. My canvas is the human body and I am creating “paintings” to adorn it. I believe that there is a certain energy that goes into handmade work and it calls to one specific person for whom that item was intended. When my creation meets with a person who is in sync with my artistic vision, magic happens. A lot of my jewellery designs have individual stories paired with them because I want people to know what I was thinking and feeling during the items conception. I think this really helps customers with their selection process.

Art really is what sustains me and feeds my soul. If I don’t get the opportunity to create for several days I can feel a nervous sort of energy build. When I work in my studio I am motivated by a certain theme, feeling, or image held in my minds eye. I have my gems, crystals, and metals sorted out by color, so I am able to work just as if I were working off a palette on an oil painting. Sometimes I start off with a quick sketch, and then I begin experimenting by bringing certain colors, forms, and materials together. Often times, I get saturated by ideas and it’s hard to reign in my enthusiasm and not have several different projects going at once. I pour a lot of myself into whatever I am making, and when the fervor to create is over, I know that the jewellery design is perfect.

Why Twitter? Blog?
In this day and age taking advantage of social media is very important. It helps you connect with a targeted audience, meet other people in your industry, and forge new friendships. I love that I am able to chat with my customers online and I thoroughly enjoy connecting with other creative souls who offer ideas, feedback, and educated opinions.

Check out MeghanT’s Facebook fan page and her new shop on ArtFire.

Interview with Rita Tesolin

A couple weeks ago I got an email telling me about Rita Tesolin’s inventory sale. I had a look at her pieces and liked what I saw. I also like to highlight local designers and merchants, so, I asked if could interview her. Of course she obliged. You can find her designs on page 17 in throughout the April issue of Flare (she wanted me to tell you) and connect with Rita on Twitter. (It looks like she’s new so be patient.)

Who is Rita Tesolin?
An adventurer.

Why did you become a jewellery designer?
Jewellery has always been a passion of mine. It started as a hobby in my teens. In my twenties I went to law school, but after practicing for a few years I was, in a way, forced back onto the path of jewellery design when I re-evaluated my life. I looked at my goals and quality of life I wanted and realized that life is too short not to be happy and not to enjoy what you do. I’ve been back at jewellery design for almost six years now, and still happy!

Which materials are your favorite to work with and why?
Semi-precious stones, especially turquoise, are my favourite because I find them healing. I am open to the energy of the stones I work with. The stones choose me; I don’t choose them.

How do you gain inspiration for your collection?
I sometimes get my inspiration in dreams, but mostly it comes from nature and from the changes that I experience in life. For example, when I’m feeling on the weaker side I turn to the stone turquoise which symbolizes strength in the native culture. I get a deep satisfaction working with turquoise. It’s my favourite. I am also inspired by native North American art, culture and symbolism.

What type of customer do you have in mind when designing a new collection?
When I create my one-of-a-kind pieces, I think of someone who is confident and fashion conscious and who wants to purchase something that can be enjoyed forever because that's what I like in my jewellery. I want something that will last a long time. I think about how the jewellery will be enjoyed not only by the person who's wearing it, but the next generation. Often my customers are not only drawn by the beauty of the piece, but they are drawn towards the stones they require. For example, I notice that people with anxiety and sleeplessness are often drawn smoky quartz because quartz calms them down. They put it on and they feel calm right away.

Any hints as to what we can expect from your Spring/Summer 2009 collection?
It’s a fun, light collection I call “rock candy”. I thought about when I was younger, putting together sugar, water and food colouring to create candy – that’s where the name came from. You can see my work on Coco Rocha on the cover of March 2009 Elle Canada, and the March and April 2009 issues of Flare.

If a woman could only buy one accessory this spring, what should it be?
A bold necklace. A lot of people these days aren’t buying new clothing, but a rock candy necklace has a lot of versatility. It can be worn high on the neck or worn long by lengthening the ribbon. When you're wearing a big necklace you don't need to focus as much on earrings and bracelets.

Bargainista interviews dagg and stacey

dagg and stacey are an awesome Toronto-based design duo. Their womens’ clothing line is available at select boutiques across North America and Japan. I recently had the opportunity to interview them.

B: Who are Dagg and Stacey?
D&S: Dagg and Stacey is a womens contemporary boutique line developed [with] our combined inspiration (Karen Dagg & Stacey Paterson). Sold at boutiques across North America and now available in Japan, our label is known for its eclectic use of colour, pattern and texture with each piece framed by our philosophy of creating beautifully cut and consistently feminine designs.

B: What inspired your 2008 Fall/Winter collection?
D&S: Inspired by the pages of a yearbook, our Fall/Winter 2008 collection harkens to the Ivy League colleges of the early 1970s. A modern silhouette is fused with the classic reminders of scholastic style.

B: What type of customer do you have in mind when designing a new collection?
D&S: We design for a woman whose attention to quality and style are paramount. She is socially conscious and has a great appreciation for clothes that are crafted with care in Canada.

B: If a woman can only buy one piece of clothing this season, what should it be?
D&S: We definitely think a Dagg and Stacey piece would be a great addition to any woman’s wardrobe. Specificallyfor this season, every woman should have a knock out party dress like our strapless velvet number, the Radcliffe (pictured).

B: Will you have more than sample sizes available at your sale this weekend?
D&S: Yes, we'll have a range of sizes available from the current season, samples and some select styles from seasons past.

B: Any hints as to what we can expect from Dagg and Stacey's Spring/Summer 2009 collection?
D&S: For our up coming season we found inspiration in the memoir Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. At the height of British Imperialism many people found themselves able to travel to new and exciting countries. We tried to capture the spirit of this intoxicating journey. Check out the attached photo as a sneak peak.

Check out the dagg and stacey sample sale this weekend and their Facebook fan page.

Bargainista talks shopping with On the Log

I met John Meadows at PodCampToronto 2008 just after he had launched a new podcast, On the Log - an interview series.

Recently, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by John about the impact of technology on the shopping experience in the latest episode, The Collective Shopper.

I quite like John's mellow style. For those of you who know me, I'm working very hard to become more comfortable with the sound of my own voice. John made it all seem so easy. The interview was recorded using Skype.

Have a listen and share your thoughts.

Photo credit: bowbrick on flickr

It’s not another meme; it’s an interview with Bargainista

When I first noticed Hope Robertson had tagged me in a meme, my first reaction was “Oh no! not another one”. I just did one a month ago. But this time it’s different. This one is more of an interview about the blog itself than information about me.

I’ve been asked these questions a lot lately so I thought it would make sense to participate. And for those of you unfamiliar with Hope’s blog, take a look. She’s a former ballerina with exquisite taste and a wonderful fashion sense.

1. What is the story behind the name of your blog?
I decided to launch a shopping blog but I didn’t have a name. Around the time, there was a whole lot of hoopla about customer service and Starbucks in the blogosphere. A Starbucks employee is called a Barista. Bargainista immediately came to mind, so I did a Google search and Bargainista it was!

2. Why did you start blogging in the first place?
I’d been lurking around social media circles for a while and was tired of being on the outside. I wanted to get hands-on blogging experience and learn more about the culture. Although my background is communications, marketing and web production, I wanted to do something different and something I could be passionate about. A light bulb went off in my head and Bargainista was born.

3. What is your best blogging experience? Your worst?
Best: The people I’ve met and the support I’ve received from readers as a result of blogging. I also enjoy when companies and authors participate in discussions.

The biggest surprise: Being mentioned in the same breath as Mitch Joel and Seth Godin by Mario Parisé on Happy Pixels.

Worst: Dealing with another blogger who is using my brand and is dismissive of trademark and copyright laws.

4. What do you think will happen to your blog in 2008?
I try not to think to hard and let it all happen organically. Good things come to those who wait. ; )

Now I want to hear from you: Mario Parisé, A.C. Riley, Henna Singh and Chris Thompson

SelectBlindsCanada.ca’s special offer for Bargainista readers

Recently, SelectBlindsCanada.ca was singled out in a The Toronto Star article for making the process of shopping for window coverings as painless and inexpensive as possible.

My curiosity was piqued. I wanted to learn more about shopping for window coverings online. I invited Robert Mendelson, EVP of SelectBlindsCanada.ca for an interview. As a special treat, he’s also offering Bargainista readers 30% off until December 3, just use this unique promo code “BARGAIN” when you go to the checkout.

Note: Robert and I met through AIMS several years ago.

B: What made you decide to sell window coverings online?

RM: As someone who has shopped for window coverings myself, I found that it was a hassle to go from store to store looking first for the style and colour I liked, and then for the best deal. Shopping online, I can compare prices without leaving my house and wasting time sitting in traffic or waiting for sales people to serve me in stores.

I found typical bricks and mortar blinds store didn’t always have the best selection. I ended up having to get some blinds from one store and then higher-end or specialty items from another.

Online, we can offer just about everything under the sun. We’re not limited by store size. We can offer as many different products as possible without increasing our costs, allowing us to offer the lowest prices. Since everyone has windows, we figured it was a natural to sell window coverings online.

B: What else sets SelectBlindsCanada.ca apart from the competition?

RM: Price. Because we have no physical store, our low overhead allows us to offer the most competitive prices. We’re able to guarantee the lowest price. If customers find a lower price from any other Canadian retailer within 90 days of purchase, we will beat it! We also offer free shipping to just about anywhere in Canada!

Convenience. You can comparison shop 24/7. We offer free samples so you can touch the material and see the colours before making a purchase.

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. We are fanatical about customer satisfaction. We don’t rest until every customer is 100% satisfied. We offer personalized service by phone, e-mail and live chat; and a lifetime warranty on everything we sell!

We’re Canadian. We offer Canadians the comfort of shopping on this side of the border. For example, if you need to return your blinds or a repair, you don’t have to worry about dealing with extra taxes or customs and brokerage charges.

B: How would I buy window coverings online? I want to see samples, need exact measurements and am concerned about installation. How can you help me overcome these concerns?

RM: Many of our customers can’t believe how easy it is to measure and install our products. The samples part is easy—we send those to you for free! Measuring is also easy—we have detailed, easy-to-follow illustrated instructions on the site. And the same goes for installation—easy to follow instructions online and available for you anytime.

We often say, if you can hang a picture on the wall, you can put up a blind. And if you’ve ever assembled furniture from that Swedish big box store, then putting up our blinds will be a cinch!

B: What’s the most interesting order you’ve ever received?

RM: We’ve outfitted an RV and sold 40 sets of blinds to a B&B in the Maritimes. Oh, and then there’s the school up in Nunavut with a few dozen of our mini-blinds!

Do you have a question for Robert? Would you like to see more interviews or exclusive promos here? Leave a comment.

Tags: blinds, Robert Mendelson, SelectBlindsCanada.ca, Toronto Star, window coverings